Watch out for Fethard’s new ‘Knitting Café’
Watch out for a new sign adjacent to Kenny's Centra Supermarket advertising a Knitting Café. Sr. Juliana and a group of knitting friends will gather there to knit. If you are interested in knitting and can knit you are very welcome to come along when it’s open. If you are interested in learning to knit there are experienced knitters there who are willing to teach anyone who comes along. If you are interested in just coming in for a chat and a cuppa, that can be catered for too.

The initial meeting will take place on Wednesday 8th February at 7.30pm. If you are interested in being part of the organising group come along and enjoy a cup of coffee, a homemade scone, and an exchange of ideas. We will make decisions on when we will start and how best to cater for he needs of as wide a range of knitters as possible. Looking forward to seeing you at Kenny's, The Green.

Badgers Over 30's soccer
The dream has been realised, finally, just last Wednesday night, the club reached its ultimate aim of fielding a full eleven-a-side game. In fact it has been looking very good this past few weeks with big turnouts, most nights, of eighteen and nineteen players. With this increase
in numbers the games have changed considerably also, and instead of a goal tally of maybe eight goals to ten, it's now a much more closed shop of maybe two to one or even last nights amazing nil all final score. Sadly though at the same time, because of the weather and the field being in continues use, its condition has been of great concern to all the clubs that use it. The steering committee will be looking into ways of maintaining the good condition of the field and, no doubt, have proposals to make in the near future. In the meantime it's up to all of us to
play our part. The real damage is done when the pitch is wet, and although we have called off matches in the past because of really bad weather, in future this may occur more often as even a small amount of wet weather could be detrimental. To all Badgers it has been proposed and agreed upon that anyone intending to play on a Wednesday night should phone one of the three committee members, who will have checked conditions and decide whether it is possible to play without causing damage to the field. Please call, between 18.30 - 19.00, to one of the numbers given below. No need to call when dry sunny conditions prevail of course. Thanks in advance for your cooperation. Just a small reminder that €20 fees will be taken up next week, please try to have paid at least by the months end. Also a reminder to those interested in the bowling night, names to Philip or Kevin. Those numbers are, Philip: 086 0565075.
Liam: 086 8436546. Colm: 052 31397.

Patrician / Presentation Secondary School Jottings
IMTA Team Maths Quiz — Congratulations to our Leaving Cert Higher Maths students. On Friday last, 27th January, our Leaving Cert higher-level teams competed in the IMTA (Irish Mathematics Teachers' Association) Team Maths Quiz held at Presentation Convent, Clonmel. Twenty teams from all around the county represented their schools and it was to our great delight and excitement, that one of our teams held on to their lead going into the final round and won the quiz. They now go on to represent Tipperary at the national final in Trinity College, Dublin, in March. The winning team was: John Frewen, Niall Hayes, Fintan Maher and Ronan Shee. Good luck to the boys in March, we hope they will enjoy the experience.

Work Experience — During the week of 30 January – 3 February, Transition Year students will do their second term of work experience. They have already completed one week of work experience, which took place in November last year and all participants found it to be an enjoyable and beneficial experience.

Athletics — Three students from the school participated in a cross-country race on 26th January: Laura Rice, Eoin Healy and Adam O’Donnell. Laura finished in 12th place in her under-15 race, Eoin finished 7th in the under-14s and Adam 8th in the same race.

Volleyball — This week both the school’s Cadet B boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams will compete in the national semifinals. The girls’ team, captained by Carrie Sweeney, will take on Mountmellick on Tuesday 31st January, in the sports complex, University of Limerick. On Wednesday 1st February, the boys’ team will meet Drumshanbo in Mountmellick.

Captain Declan Doyle said with enthusiasm, “If the team continue to work hard at training, we will have a good chance of winning.” Best of luck to both teams.

Open Night — On Tuesday 7th February, there will be an ‘Open Night’ taking place in our school from 7pm to 8.30pm. Senior primary school pupils, their parents and the general public are welcome to attend.  The school will soon celebrate the opening of its newly renovated science labs, offering a full range of subjects to higher Leaving Cert level and providing the pupils with a truly holistic education.

Crowd support
Anybody who had any doubt about the value of a supporting crowd at a match should have visited the cauldron of Thomond Park last Saturday to watch Munster against Sale Sharks. A large crowd travelled from Fethard to see the men of Munster defy their critics once again and regain the top spot in their Heineken Cup group, thus increasing their chance of a home draw in the quarterfinals.

The atmosphere was electric from the start. The home crowd were buzzing with expectation, and were treated to an unforgettable performance that evening. The first run of the day was cheered on supporters behind the West Stand.

A ticketless supporter risked loosing his manhood if he slipped, as he scaled the spiked railings in his attempt to enter the stadium for free.  Once over he had to jump from a high wall and cross the back pitch in full view of the stewards, crowd and security. He sprinted for the corner. But waiting for him behind the RTE broadcast van was a security man in his day glow jacket. He was about to be halted in his tracks, but then the Thomond crowd got behind him. He heard their shouts, did a quick side step and altered his run. He reached the line of fans before the official reached him and headed to the bar for his victory celebration.

Those fans were only warming up for the serious work that lay ahead, and they were duly rewarded when Munster destroyed the men from Manchester. The hunt is already on for tickets to the next match, the quarterfinal against Perpignan. Let’s hope that the Fethard fans don’t have to resort to scaling the spiked railings. If they do, I advise bringing a saddle, a rope ladder and a balaclava. If they get caught, the worst that can happen is that they could be thrown out. Intact.

Hunting News
A very large mounted field plus a great number of car followers turned out for the Tipperary Foxhounds lawn meet at Coolmore on Monday 23rd January. First draw proved blank before a fox from Knockelly ran a short left-handed circle to the large Knockelly Hill covert. At least three brace were soon on foot here causing the pack to split. Getting them together eventually, Pat moved on to St. Johnstown where from the fort a fox ran a short distance to ground in St. Johnstown quarry. Two short runs kept the followers on the go from O’Donnell’s and from the fort at Coolbawn cross.

Moving on to Bawnbrack, the last draw of the day provided another excellent hunt. Hounds had their fox quickly away from here. Crossing the road at Kilkennybeg bearing left-handed he ran over the hill to the Ballylusky road at Shanakyle. Turning left here he ran to Ballylusky where hard pressed he again swung left-handed and running by the Ballylusky-Killenaule road he re-crossed the Kilkennybeg road to where he was found. Hounds were still hunting strongly on this good fox when stopped at almost 5pm.

With the White Heathers
From their meet at Loughcopple on Sunday last the White Heathers had their best run from the Blackthorns at College. Working a straight line out of the thicket towards Miltown, hounds suddenly hit it off near Miltown House. They ran towards Carrolls where the fox did a u-turn to a small covert in O’Donnells’. Moving him briskly from here, he crossed the Moyle stream and ran to the Fethard-Kilsheelan road where he crossed. Straight to the Anner, which he also took in style, he seemed to be heading for Kyleavalla wood, which he skirted and got to ground in Holohans.

The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers met last Sunday, 29th January, at Ballingarry and next week, 5th February in Ballylusky at 11am.

Fethard Ladies Football
Fethard Ladies Football Club will hold their Annual General Meeting on Friday night, 10th February at 8pm in Tirry Community Centre, Fethard. All members are expected to attend and new faces are very welcome. The club enjoyed a good year in 2005 so please let us prepare in time for 2006 and start by making a special effort to attend the AGM.

Fethard Bridge Club
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game played on Wednesday 25th January were:
1st Gross: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara;
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey & Betty Walsh;
1st Nett: Nora Ahearne and Olive Looby;
2nd Nett; Mary Quirke and Fr. John Meagher OSA.

On Wednesday next, 1st February we play the second round of the Club Championship.

Anyone looking for a partner please contact Annie O’Brien at Tel: 052 31862.

Fethard GAA Club News
With our under-21 and minor footballers back in training on Tuesdays and Fridays, the senior footballers return on this Sunday, 5th February, at 12 noon sharp in Fethard GAA Park with a County League match against J K Brackens on 12th February in Fethard at 12 noon. Players, do not forget your membership fees of €25 for 2006, to chairman, secretary, treasurer or Stephen McCormack (membership coordinator).

Best of luck to our players involved with the Tipperary senior football team who commence the national league away to Sligo on this coming Sunday 5th February.

The lotto jackpot of €4,700 was not won. Then umbers drawn in Lonergans Bar were 2, 12,  21 and 28. We had one match three winner of €150 to Ber Flanagan, Knockbritt, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Ricky Flynn, Tullow, Fethard.

Our sympathy are at this time with the Morrissey family, Tullamaine, on the death of Dominic Connolly, Clonmel, husband of Mary Morrissey. Go ndeanai Dhia trocaire ar an ainmeachta.

‘Book of the Year’ award presented in Fethard  
As the Fethard Historical Society approaches the 11th Tipperariana Book Fair on February 12th, it was time last Friday night, January 27th, to celebrate the 2005 ‘Tipperariana Book of the Year’ award. One book, newly published, from each of the past three years has been selected by the society for the award. The criteria for selection is that the book must be of Tipperary and in this, its fourth year, the award was presented to David J. Butler, author of, “South Tipperary, 1570-1841; Religion, Land and Rivalry".

Presenting the award at the Abymill Theatre, Terry Cunningham from the Historical Society, reminded the audience how the political system in the past had granted land and houses to the dominant group of the time; existing owners and occupiers were forced to forfeit their property to a new group of people. As a result many of the dispossessed were forced into a new way of livelihood or poverty, or were forced to migrate, and some in turn did to the indigenous peoples of the new lands what had been done to them. He spoke of the real emotional issues that affected these dispossessed people during those turbulent times we now view, somewhat dispassionately.

David Butler, who comes from Cahir, where the book had recently been officially launched, chose to outline his own approach and development of his subject, how his integration of history and geography came about as he sought to outline and describe the differing political and religious groupings that vied for the ultimate prize, ie. the ownership of land during the period of time that his study covers. In an interesting aside, he informed the audience that he had not studied history for his Leaving Certificate but had finished with double honours in history and geography for his degree in UCC. As an indication of the amount of work involved he spent nine months compiling the maps for this book.

By all accounts it is reported that this book is an excellent academic account of the movement of people and of the major political upheavals in this area during the 270 years prior to the famine. It will serve as a great reference book for many people who wish to know what happened to land ownership and the reasons for the tension between the different Christian groups as they politically sought ownership of land and influence. David Butler was presented with a specially commissioned ceramic platter which featured a representation of the actual cover of his book, an early drawing of Cahir Castle at the foot of a quiet majestic Himalayan mountain range, better known as the Galtees. Generous refreshments were followed by a short concert given by John Birmingham and Evan Grace. These two fine musicians, with three others, are giving a concert in the Abymill on Friday, 3rd March. It was an intimate night to honour a historian and to acknowledge a work of the highest achievement and to celebrate David Butler's great success for this beautiful published work that is now available for us all to read.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 25th January were: 5, 12, 15 and 30. There was no Jackpot winner and five ‘Match 3’ winners who received €30 each:

Maureen Murphy, 18 Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard;
Hannie Leahy, Annesgift, Fethard;
Annette O'Donovan, The Valley, Fethard;
J.J. Ryan, Ballywilliam, Fethard;
Carol Kenny, The Green, Fethard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Ashley Sullivan, Barrettstown, Fethard;
James O'Meara, Drangan;
Paddy Wallace, Saucestown, Fethard.

Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1,000.

The Late Sean Henehan
The death has occurred on Thursday 26th January, at Our Lady’s Hospice, Dublin, of Sean Henehan, The Square, Fethard. Sean, in his earlier years, ran a successful auctioneering business from both Limerick and Fethard. He later became manager and secretary of Clonmel Greyhound Racing Company and in 1972, was appointed a member of Bord na gCon (Irish Racing Board) for five years. Sean was also a keen sportsman and a member of Fethard's very successful tennis and badminton teams of the 1950s.



Sean's remains left Our Lady's Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6, for Fethard, on Saturday 28th January. Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Parlour, Fethard, followed by removal to Holy Trinity Parish Church. Requiem Mass took place at 11am on Sunday, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Young Writer Competition
To commemorate the life of Blessed William Tirry OSA, young people are invited to, (a) compose a poem relating to Blessed William Tirry, and/or, (b) compose a piece of creative writing prompted by one of the ideas suggested below:

1 — You are Blessed William Tirry writing about how it felt to be a wanted man; being sought out like a criminal; how you survived while in hiding.

2 — You are a journalist who interviews Blessed William while in captivity. Record your questions and his answers.

3 — You feel Blessed William has left his mark on the Fethard you know today. How?

4 — You are Blessed William writing your thoughts on the night before your execution. What are your hopes and prayers for Ireland?

Entries are welcome from:

Category A: Fifth & Sixth class Primary students. Closing date 17th Feb. '06.
Category B: First, Second & Third year Secondary students. Closing date 24th Feb. '06. Category C: TY, Fifth & Sixth year Secondary students. Closing date 24th Feb. '06.

All entries on A4 paper please. Please attach to the back of your work, on a separate sheet, your name, class/year and school address. The signature of a parent/guardian or teacher as being your original work. Please submit your entry to your teacher for collection (local schools) or deliver to The Augustinian Priory, Abbey Street, Fethard.